The Santa Monica Mountains, one of the Transverse Ranges located in Southern California, are in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of the California Floristic Province. This ecoregion has two predominant ecosystems, with three primary plant communities:
The Santa Monica Mountains are covered by hundreds of local plant species: some are endemic or very rare, some are beautiful California native plants in situ, and some also are familiar as horticultural ornamental and native garden plants. Each season has different plants predominating the visual experience.
A partial list of Plants seen in the Santa Monica Mountains:[1] [2]
Hesperoyucca whipplei (aka: Yucca whipplei) (Chaparral Yucca, Our Lord's Candle, Spanish Bayonet)
Dipterostemon capitatus (Blue Dicks)
Carex senta
Carex spp.
Sisyrinchium bellum (Blue Eyed Grass)
Juncus patens (Gray Spike Rush)
Juncus spp.
Calochortus splendens (Calochortus)
Calochortus spp.
Chlorogalum pomeridianum (Soap Plant)
Lilium humboldtii (Humboldt's Lily)
Epipactis gigantea (Stream Orchid)
Festuca californica (California fescue)
Leymus condensatus (aka: Eleymus condensatus) (Giant Wild Rye grass)
Leymus triticoides (Creeping Wild Rye)
Melica californica (California Melic Grass)
Melica imperfecta (Little California Melic Grass)
Nassella pulchra (aka: Stipa pulchra) (Purple Needlegrass)-California State Grass
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Malosma laurina (Laurel Sumac)
Rhus integrifolia (Lemonadeberry)
Rhus ovata (Sugar Bush)
Toxicodendron diversilobum (Poison Oak) (skin irritation)
Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) (poisonous)
Foeniculum vulgare (Sweet Fennel)
(Yarrow)
Artemisia californica (California sagebrush)
Baccharis glutinosa (Mule fat)
Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Brush)
Centaurea melitensis (Yellow Star Thistle) (significant invasive exotic)
Malacothrix saxatilis (Cliff Aster)
Misc (sunfowers)
Brassica nigra (Black Mustard) (invasive exotic)
Sambucus mexicana (Mexican Elderberry)
Salsola iberica (Tumbleweed)
Cistus villosus
Calystegia macrostegia (Morning glory)
Cuscuta californica (Dodder, Orangebeard, Witches Hair)
Dudleya pulverulenta (Chalk Dudleya)
Lotus scoparius (Broom)
Lupinus spp.
Eriodictyon crassifolium (Yerba Santa)
Phacelia cicutaria (Caterpillar phacelia)
Salvia clevelandii - (Cleveland sage)
Salvia leucophylla (Purple sage)
Salvia mellifera (Black sage)
Malva parviflora (Cheeseweed)
Mirabilis californica (Wishbone Plant)
Clarkia deflexa
Zauschneria californica - (California Fuchsia)
Dendromecon rigida - (Bush Poppy)
Eschscholzia californica - (California Poppy)
Romneya coulteri - (Matilija Poppy)
Leptodactylon californicum
Eriogonum crocatum - (Conejo Buckwheat) (endemic)
Eriogonum cinereum - (Coastal Buckwheat) (endemic)
Eriogonum fasciculatum - (California buckwheat)
Anagalis arvensis
Ceanothus megacarpus - (Bigpod Ceanothus) (endemic)
Rhamnus californica - (Coffeeberry)
Adenostoma fasciculatum - (Coastal Sage)
Cercocarpus betuloides - (Mountain Mahogany)
Heteromeles arbutifolia - (Toyon)
Prunus ilicifolia - (Evergreen Cherry)
Rubus ursinus - (California Blackberry)
Salix lasiolepis - (Arroyo Willow)
Ribes amarum - (Bitter Gooseberry) (endemic)
Ribes aureum - (Golden Currant)
Ribes divaricatum - (Parish's Gooseberry)
Ribes malvaceum - (Chaparral Currant)
Ribes speciosum - (Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry)
Anirrhinum coulterianum
Antirrhinim kelloggii
Castilleja affins
Casrilleja foliolosa
Castilleja marinii
Datura innoxia (Datura)
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Acer macrophyllum - (Bigleaf Maple)
Alnus rhombifolia - (White Alder)
Juglans californica - (California Black Walnut)
Quercus agrifolia - (Coast Live Oak)
Quercus chrysolepis - (Canyon Live Oak)
Pinus sabiniana - (Digger Pine, Gray Pine)
Platanus racemosa - (California Sycamore)
Umbellularia Californica - (California Bay)----